Blog

Archive for September, 2013

We’ve just written a press release all about our new Static Cling Labels and how they’re a brilliant teaching tool for use in classrooms.

These versatile labels are perfectly suited to the demands of a school environment. The polyester material is tough, durable, and waterproof, and the use of static cling – rather than an adhesive – means that they are 100% repositionable, reusable, and removable, and they won’t leave behind any unsightly – or super sticky – residue.

In schools, transparent static cling labels can help save teachers time and money, and they have hundreds of different uses, including:

– Teaching Tools
These labels can be used to make teaching tools designed around the subject being studied, the pupils being taught, and a teacher’s personal teaching style. They can be used as visual aids or as part of interactive activities during lessons – for example, to demonstrate sentence structure in language lessons, to create timelines in history lessons, or to construct and solve equations in mathematics lessons.

– Classroom Displays
Static cling labels can be used either as protective covers for classroom displays or as part of displays themselves. Instead of laminating individual pieces of work to protect them while they are on display, a static cling label can be applied over a piece of work, removed when the display is taken down, and then reused on the next display – without doing any damage to the work or the display surface. Alternatively, these labels can be used to make topical displays that can be put up while a particular topic is being studied and then taken down and stored until they are needed again. For example, they could be used to display “Words of the Week” in a language class, the formulae required during a particular science lesson, or a reminder of the areas of study that make up a specific module or subject.

– Labels and Signs
Of course, TSC can also simply be used to make labels, whether teachers want to create name labels for students to apply to their assigned desk, tray, or locker; to label up storage units so everyone knows where particular items are kept; to create temporary signs for use during events such as parent evenings or performances; as door signs to indicate the form, subject, or teacher assigned to a particular classroom; or even to make posters for classrooms to display classroom rules and regulations, health and safety notices, or important educational material.

These labels can be printed using a laser printer or written on using a permanent marker pen, and are available in a wide variety of sizes. Teachers can find out more about this range of labels and the sizes available on our Transparent Static Cling Labels range page.

Here at Label Planet, we already work with a number of schools and can offer 30 day credit invoices to local education authorities and academies who submit an official purchase order by email or by fax. Schools are also free to order online or by phone with a credit or debit card. We also offer samples, which can be requested here.

2. GLOSS TRANSPARENT POLYESTER LABELS FOR LASER PRINTERS (GTP)
These labels are also made of polyester and – providing they are used as blank covering labels only – they may be the better option as they are slightly cheaper. Customers can use their inkjet printer to print other inkjet-compatible labels – in whatever colour or material they prefer – and then simply use a blank GTP label as the waterproof cover.

3. MATT TRANSPARENT POLYESTER LABELS FOR LASER PRINTERS (MTP)
As for the GTP labels, these polyester labels are a good option to use as blank covering labels only – these may be the preferred option for customers who are applying labels to a matt surface and so want a covering label that matches, rather than a gloss label that stands out.

Customers can see all of the waterproof transparent labels we offer on our website here.

We often get enquiries from customers who either want to place an order for a high volume or who have what we like to call a “shopping list” – in other words, a lot of different sizes or types of labels in one order (although we should note that sometimes we get someone who falls into both of these categories).

These customers may have concerns about ordering such quantities or complicated orders online, which is why we would encourage these customers to get in touch with us before they place their order.

We can give these customers:
– Free samples to try out new labels before they buy
– Advice on which materials and sizes are best suited to their requirements
– Advice on getting the best print results
– Advice on ordering the right quantity at the right price, including quotes for the items they are interested in

So, if you have any doubts or queries about an order you wish to place, please get in touch and we’ll do our best to assist!

There are a number of different ways to set up label templates in Microsoft Word, with each having advantages and disadvantages depending on what you need to do. So, here’s Label Planet’s short guide to the options available and the purposes they are most suited to.
1. MAIL MERGE
BEST SUITED TO: Address Labels where the data is extracted from an existing spreadsheet or database.
We’ve written a guide to Mail Merges – which you can read here – but essentially you follow these steps:
– Click on “Mailings”
– Click on “Start Mail Merge” and select “Labels”
– Under “Label Vendor”, select a company (e.g. Avery) and then choose the relevant code from the drop down box
– Follow the Step by Step Guide to design the layout and then import the data from your spreadsheet or database

2. CREATE LABELS
BEST SUITED TO: creating a full sheet of the same label – simple text only
– Click on Mailings
– Click on Labels (left hand side in the “Create” section)
– Click on Options to choose an existing vendor code
– Enter your text in the “Address” box and then opt to print a “Full page of the same label”
[You can also choose to print a “Single label” using this method]

3. GENERATE A BLANK TEMPLATE FROM AN EXISTING CODE
BEST SUITED TO: using an existing code (such as an Avery code) when you need the freedom to create different label designs on one sheet or if you want greater control over the design of your labels (including images)
– Follow the steps for option 2, but instead of entering your text in the “Address” box, click on “New Document” to generate a blank template for you to fill in

4. MAKE YOUR OWN TEMPLATE
If you’re feeling particularly creative or your labels don’t have a compatible existing code, you can always opt to create your own template.

You can do this by inserting a table and adapting the size and position of the table to suit the layout of the labels. Alternatively you can follow the steps for options 2 and 3 above, but instead of choosing a label vendor and code, select “New Label” and fill in the dimensions of your labels to generate your own template.

Of course, you can also opt for an alternative option – visit the Label Planet website and download one of our templates for free! You can find our templates on our website here, along with tips and advice for printing labels.

We recently began stocking a Transparent Static Cling product and produced a short guide to creating labels that can be stuck onto the inside of a window and read from the outside. We are in the process of creating bespoke templates that feature pre-prepared text boxes for mirror writing to make this even easier.

While we will revamp the instructions and include them with the bespoke templates, here is a refresher on creating Mirrored Templates in Word:

Word 2007 and earlier versions
– You can create mirrored images and text using the “Flip Tool”.
– Click on your image, shape, or WordArt.
– Select the “Format” tab at the top of the page.
– In the “Arrange” group, click on “Rotate” and then “Flip Vertical”.
– NB: you must insert text using WordArt as these versions of Word cannot flip the text in a text box correctly.

Word 2010 and later versions
– You can create mirrored images and text using the “3D-Rotation Tool”.
– Click on your item and select the “Format” tab at the top of the page.
– MIRROR IMAGES: In the “Picture Styles” group, click on “Picture Effects” then “3D-Rotation” then “3D-Rotation Options”.
– MIRROR TEXT: In the “Shape Styles” group, click on “Shape Effects” then “3D-Rotation” then “3D-Rotation Options”.
– Amend the value of “X” to 180°.
– Note for text boxes: the text box may now display a background colour. To remove this simply click on the “Shape Fill” option in the “Shape Styles” group and select “No Fill”.

Remember:
– Your printer may have a mirror image function built in, so always check your printer properties first!
– To create mirrored text, it HAS to be contained in either a text box (2010 onwards only) or created in Word Art.
– You can find out which version of Word you have by selecting “Start” (bottom left of your screen), selecting “All Programs”, and opening the “Microsoft Office” folder – the programs should be listed along with their version.
– These functions may not work if you try to use a file that has been created in a different version of Word to the one that you are using to edit. For example, if you try to use a 2003 Word file in Word 2010, the 3D-Rotation Tool may not work. For Word 2003 and earlier versions, the file extension should be .doc. For Word 2007 and later versions, the file extension should be .docx. You can find the file extension by right clicking on the file and selecting “Properties” – the file extension will be displayed under the file name as “Type of file”.

The most common template problem our customers tend to report is misalignment caused by Paper Size settings.

Customers experiencing this problem will find that one part of the sheet will be printing with a correct alignment (usually along the top) but that the alignment gets progressively worse as you move away from this position.

The cause of this is that the printer is printing to a paper size that is larger or smaller than A4. Usually, the cause of this is a setting that has defaulted to “American Letter”.

There are a few places to check for the paper size setting:

– Printer Settings/Properties
Both Word and PDF documents will give you an opportunity to alter the printer properties before printing. You should check through all of the printer settings and make sure any setting to do with paper size or paper type is set to A4 and there are no scaling options selected (or that scaling is to 100%). PDF documents provide options to print to “Fit” or “Actual Size” – you may wish to try switching to the alternative option if you have issues with one.

– Document Settings
The page size can also be determined in the file itself. In PDF documents, you need to check that any scaling options are set to 100%. With Word documents, the print preview screen also features a “Page Setup” link, which will show the page size that has been set for the document.

ONLINE
– At the checkout you can pay either with a debit or credit card or via your PayPal account.
[please note we do not accept American Express]

PHONE ORDERS
– We can also take payments over the phone with a debit or credit card
[please note we do not accept American Express]

PRO-FORMA INVOICE
– We operate on a payment with order basis and so do not run any credit accounts. However, we are able to issue pro-forma invoices against which payments can be made. You can pay by cheque (payable to “Label Planet Ltd”), bank transfer, or over the phone with a credit or debit card. Once payment is received, your order will be processed and your goods despatched. Pro-forma invoices are ideal if you do not have a card available, if you prefer to pay via bank transfer, or if all payments need to be processed and made by a separate Finance Department.

SCHOOLS
– The one exception to payment with order is Local Education Authority (LEA) Schools. LEA Schools may request a 30-day invoice for their goods. To order, the school should email or fax to us a copy of their order on an official purchase order form or school letterhead, that is signed by the individual responsible for payment of the order. The order will then be processed immediately with the school having 30 days to make payment.

You can find out more about online payments and delivery information on our website. If you have any questions about purchasing labels from Label Planet, you can email us at info@labelplanet.co.uk or call us on 01270 668076.

While we have quite a range of sizes available, certain sizes do have a minimum order of 500 sheets and we are unable to provide bespoke sizes.

However, we do have a tip for customers who don’t want to buy too many labels and have a particular size in mind – particularly those who are buying from our gloss paper, polyester or polyethylene ranges.

Why not try buying a full A4 sheet of the particular material or colour that you prefer and cutting it to size yourself. The code for full A4 sheets will always begin with LP1/210 – followed by the relevant colour or material code. Clearly this solution may not be a viable one if you need a large volume – but in this case it would probably be most cost effective to have the bespoke size made for you.

You can cut labels manually with scissors or cutting tools, or with a desktop or worktop guillotine. There are also some printers available which have a guillotine function built in, to cut label sheets to the required size automatically.

You can see the full range of A4 sheets available from our website here.

Label Planet is a UK label supplier specialising in labels on A4 sheets. If you are an existing customer then many thanks for coming back; please let us know if we can assist in any way, particularly if you are looking for something different. If you are a new visitor then we hope you find what you need. We are always happy to help and we can supply free samples for you to try. Our website includes free templates for you to download. We supply labels directly to individuals, companies, and organisations of all kinds in quantities of 25 sheets to 40,000 sheets.

Where applicable, our products are the same size format as the Avery product references (e.g. L7163 or J8163) shown above. These product references are used because they are size formats that are found in most software packages. We list the product references along with our own Label Planet Ltd code for your easy cross referencing with the software. Avery and Avery product references are the trade marks of the Avery Dennison Group. Label Planet Ltd products are not made or endorsed by the Avery Dennison Group.